| Feeling good? Is there room for improvement? | | | | return for fresh produce, buy organic and/or local |
| Here are ten tried and tested ways of feeling on | | | | if you can, go to the fruit and vegetable market |
| top of the world and passing that feeling on to | | | | at the end of the day when prices plummet, aim |
| your children and grandchildren. Most of these | | | | to introduce one new food a week into the |
| strategies are free or low cost and can be | | | | household, encourage muesli-type breakfasts (I |
| started immediately, wherever you are and | | | | like to soak muesli overnight in orange juice in the |
| whatever your situation. | | | | fridge), find out about your local Farmers Markets, |
| - Practice Self-Esteem. Be accepting, loving and | | | | cook real food (this is not hard and plenty of |
| respectful of yourself - treat yourself as you | | | | ideas are to hand - type "quick easy healthy |
| would a very dear friend. If you are respectful of | | | | meals" into Google), snack on fruit, limit |
| yourself others will respect you. Start praising | | | | take-aways and ready meals. I have found that |
| yourself in your own head for the good decisions | | | | kids will tuck in to carrot and cucumber sticks, |
| you have made today, do it now, keep doing it | | | | apple slices etc as long as I prepare them and put |
| until it becomes a habit. | | | | them out casually on the table when they return |
| - Be Positive. Give yourself positive messages and | | | | from an outing. Aim to 'Beat 5' every day - make |
| do the same with your family and friends. Start | | | | it a game, count up at the end of each day how |
| now - try to go ten minutes without saying | | | | many fruits and vegetables the family have had |
| anything negative to yourself or to anyone else | | | | and then how many non-junk ingredients all |
| or about anyone else. Think about the best and | | | | together - can you beat 20? It sometimes helps |
| successful things you and the people you are with | | | | to write them down and try for more the next |
| have done, focus on these. Make positive | | | | day, focus on more of the good, look after your |
| comments to your children, for example, instead | | | | body and feel proud of it. |
| of saying " Your room is a mess" say "I like your | | | | - Drink Wisely. Keep off the alcohol for a time or |
| posters, what could you do to make this shelf | | | | limit it to the occasional glass of wine. You know |
| look good?" | | | | this makes sense - try it for a week and see |
| - An Attitude of Gratitude. Focus on what is good | | | | how you feel at the end. Watch your coffee |
| in your life and mentally say "thank you". If you | | | | intake - try to manage on one a day. Drink plenty |
| are reading this you must have eyesight for a | | | | of water or juice. |
| start, what a precious gift. Then mentally list what | | | | - Phone a Friend. Be with people who help you |
| else you have - a sunny day, a train on time, a | | | | feel good - positive, fun people. Look after the |
| friendly shop assistant, a strong body, a good | | | | friends you have and arrange some fun times |
| friend and so on, do it now. | | | | with them. Do it now and encourage your children |
| - Have Fun, Have a Laugh. This is essential - | | | | to do the same, be a welcoming place for their |
| research has shown that having fun strengthens | | | | friends. |
| the immune system and reduces stress as well | | | | - Get into Nature. Research has shown that "going |
| as helping recovery from illness. Watch fun films | | | | green" can reduce stress and boost healing. Being |
| read fun books to the kids (try 'Captain | | | | in the countryside, a weekend away, gardening or |
| Underpants'!), invite friends for a games evening | | | | a walk on the beach can all create well being and |
| or have an outing to a local gala or bowling alley. | | | | contentment. |
| - Get Outside and Have Adventures. Getting into | | | | - Try Something New. Set a new challenge for |
| the countryside or seaside or to a local beauty | | | | yourself - join a night class, try a new sport, get |
| spot or park or sports facility is a great way raise | | | | creative with paint or clay, enter a fun run (or a |
| your mood, get exercise and have fun. Just going | | | | marathon!) Plan it now and get the rest of the |
| out for a brisk walk can give a huge boost and | | | | family involved. |
| costs nothing. My kids respond better to "let's go | | | | Well that's the ten, you can probably think of |
| and have an adventure" rather than "let's go on a | | | | many more. Don't wait till tomorrow - it may not |
| walk". Just go out to a new place and explore, | | | | come, enjoy the moment, do it now, really live |
| make a game of it. | | | | your life and support your family in doing the |
| - Eat Wisely. Grow your own (get children to help, | | | | same. |
| they love it), help on someone's allotment in | | | | |